Shining Light

My Save The Dates Are Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:12:00 +0000

I just had to quickly share that my Save the Date cards arrived in the mail yesterday!

Vistaprint was having a special deal that you can get 100 postcards for free, but you have to pay for shipping. I thought these were well worth the $6.50 charge for shipping. I picked the 21 day shipping option, and they were in my mailbox 3 days later!

I was so impresses with the quality, I ordered advice cards and photo sharing cards. I will post what those look like as soon as I get them.

Also, I absolutely cannot wait for Tuesday to get here... my dress should be delivered!

Planning a Wedding under $5000

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:06:00 +0000

My love proposed to me on Valentines day and since then I have been thinking about wedding stuff non stop. Here is an update on how things are going.

FYI, the wedding colors are black and white with green as an accent color. We plan to have around 100 guests. It will be in March of next year.

We have found the venue and booked it :)

It will be at a country club. We will have the ceremony on the 2nd story veranda. The picture above will be the backdrop of the ceremony. The reception will be inside the adjoining banquet room. Finding a place on the budget we have set seemed impossible, I looked at tons of venues around town, and this place was in the nicest location and was surprisingly the least expensive!

I have made most of the flower arrangements already. I opted for silk flowers because I would like to keep my bouquet longer than just a few days after the ceremony. (Also, the stores are selling silk flowers that are in season, if I didn't get them now I would be cutting it really close to have them done before the wedding).

(Top Left - my bouquet, top right - bridesmaid bouquet, bottom left - grooms boutonniere, bottom right - table centerpiece)

I had the ring pillow from my parents wedding, but the colors or style didn't match, so I took it apart and re-made it. (I forgot to take a picture of it before I took it apart)

Here is an unfinished picture of the wedding invitations. There are some elements of the invitation that I have not decided how I want yet, so they are not in the picture. I will post a picture once they are done though.

(The invitation closed)

(The inside of the invitation, the inside right flap has a pocket for the RSVP card, that is one of the elements I am not done designing)

Favors. What do I say... these little things can get expensive fast! I searched for an inexpensive but unique idea and came up with coasters. I followed these instructions.

The last thing I have made is a cardbox. This is the box that sits on the gift table and guests who brought cards can put them in there so they do not get misplaced.

I found a dress I love and I should have it next week, but I am not going to post a picture of it just in case my love happens to look at my blog :)

What are some of the things you did or made to keep the wedding under budget?

DIY: Jewelry Organizer for under $20

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 22:52:00 +0000

I have been trying to find a jewelry organizer that would work in the empty space in my closet, that didn't cost a fortune for quite awhile now. After looking at several sites and stores just to come up empty handed, I decided to make something that would work for my needs.

I had a small makeup bag that I stored my necklaces and earrings in, but it just turned into a tangled mess. More often than not, I would also forget what I had in there and it would sit un-touched for months at a time. Here's how I made the above jewelry organizer:

Everything that I needed to make this organizer was purchased at Walmart. I bought a coat hook for $12, a picture frame for $4 and some ribbon for $3. I carefully removed the glass and inserted some plastic canvas in it's place. For the hanger, I measured the length of ribbon I would need, tied the bow, and folded the ribbon over itself in the back a couple of times and drilled a small screw into the frame to fasten it on.

Now I can simply hang all the earrings with a hook on them into the canvas. For the earrings that do not have hooks on them, I took a small plastic bag, (like this one), punched a hole in it and put a earring hook from my craft supplies, like this through it to hang it up.

Problem solved! Now I can see what I have in an attractive, organized way and I still had enough money leftover to get that necklace I've been eyeing :)

Recycling - Make it Easier Part 2 of 2

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 02:24:00 +0000

If you missed part 1, click here.

Recycling can seem like such a hassle, so how would it fit in on a blog that has set out to help you live a simpler life? I want to share a few things with you that might make it simple enough, you might consider joining me!

6. Go Paperless: Try to stop using paper plates & towels (plastic utensils fit in well with this one too) and use cloth. Good quality cloth napkins, hand towels and dish rags can often be found at thrift stores for much less than buying from a big box store.

7. Put it to the curb: Find out if your area has curbside recycling, also check to see if RecycleBank will pick up in your town. (They reward you with points for your recycled material which you can turn into rewards).

If a curbside pickup is not available, locate the nearest recycling drop off center to you and try to incorporate a bi-weekly trip around your other errands & shopping trips. You could even see if a neighbor would be interested in alternating trips with you.

8. What about the odd stuff: What do you do with batteries, CFL light bulbs, old cell phones, electronics?

• For battery recycling locations, check out http://www.esho.com/
• CFL Bulbs, check out the EPA website
• Cell Phone recycling, check out call2recycle.org (or send them in for Swagbucks)
• For old electronics, check out this page on the EPA website

9. Swap or donate your stuff: Arrange a swap with some family, friends or neighbors and swap some stuff. Give your items a second life and get some "new to you" items in return. Just because you don't use it or love it anymore doesn't mean that someone else wouldn't.

If a swap doesn't seem likely, maybe donate the clothes or VCR you don't want anymore. Let's do our best to keep these items out of the landfills. (Please use your best judgement when donating items, if it's stained, torn, or broken beyond repair, it probably will be thrown out at the donation site).

10. Spread the word: Try to start a recycling plan at your office, put some boxes in various places for paper collection and a separate waste basket in the break room for cans.

At the company I work for, the cans are sold to an aluminum recycling plant and the profits are used to buy a special treat for the office a few times a year.

The best way to spread the word though, is to do it through your actions. Rather than just telling people what they should do, lead by example and maybe they will follow along.

What tips do you have to make recycling easier or more convenient?

Recycling - Make it easier Part 1 of 2

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:18:00 +0000

Recycling can seem like such a hassle, so how would it fit in on a blog that has set out to help you live a simpler life? I want to share a few things with you that might make it simple enough, you might consider joining me!

1. Start at the store: Try and buy foods and products that have less packaging. The less packaging you bring into your home, the less will end up needing to be recycled or be thrown into the trash. Also, don't forget to bring any reusable bags you may have. (If you do not have any reusable bags, consider paper. If that is not a choice either, there are many places to recycle the plastic bags or you could drop them off at a thrift store, most will gladly accept them).

2. Make it convenient: Instead of keeping the recycling container in the garage, try putting it where the trash can should be. Make recycling easier by keeping the recycle bin close by and have a small bag for trash which could be taken to the garage at the end of the day.

I have also noticed several stores selling multiple compartment trash cans, although sort of pricey, could help with recycling. If you have the money in your budget for it, and the space as well, it could make your efforts quite a bit easier.

3. Opt of out junk mail: I don't know about you, but most of the paper in our house is brought in from the mailbox. Store fliers, credit card offers and magazines come in by the bundle. Not only does this take up a lot of space in my recycle bin, it takes up my time trying to decide what needs to be shreded or tossed or put in my to be read pile.

If you are interested in opting out of junk mail, check out the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse for more information.

4. Stop buying bottled water: Do you purchase a lot of bottled water? Maybe a faucet mounted filtration system could save you a lot of money and help cut down on the waste. If the convenience of taking it with you is key, a reusable bottle may work for you.

5. Make a list: Keep a handy list of things that can and cannot be recycled. If you have to question whether plastic #5 can be recycled, it will probably end up in the trash. You could post this on the inside of a cupboard door or on the side of the container itself, where ever makes it convenient. Recycling Revolution has a decent list of common items that can be recycled, check it out here.

In an effort to keep things short and sweet, tips 6-10 will follow later this week. Even if you cannot make all the changes, every little thing counts. It takes time to develop new habits or routines, and the best thing to remember is to just keep trying.

What tips do you have to make recycling easier or more convenient?

Fun Freebies!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 01:12:00 +0000

Everyone loves free stuff! Here are a few things from areound the web that you can get completely free!

Christian Audio gives away one free ebook each month. This month you can download Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders by using code SEP2010 at checkout.

Womenshealth.gov is giving away a free 2011 Planning Calendar. They will begin shipping them in December.

Joyce Meyer Ministries is also giving away a 2011 calendar - sign up here!

If you play free games on Pogo, you can get 10,000 free tokens just by solving the puzzle! You can also get another 10,000 tokens for another promotional puzzle here.

Finally, my favorite freebie of all, you can download hundreds of free songs everyday on Amazon.com :)

Closet Storage Solution for under $30!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:04:00 +0000

Have you ever lived somewhere that had lots of built-in shelves and storage space? We did, at the last apartment we had, there was an abundance of shelving. It was such a nice thing to have, but when we moved into our house and didn't have it anymore, getting organized was a struggle.

Our new home has plenty of closet space, but only 1 shelf in each that is pretty high up. Lots of stuff ended up getting piled up on the floors of the closets and I couldn't find anything in there.

I love doing hands on type of projects and I figured "how hard could it be to build some shelves?" So I pulled everything out of the closet in the office and started to think I was way over my head...

Next I somehow managed to get to the closet in the back of the room, took some measurements, and headed off to the hardware store. I had 2 big sheets of plywood cut to fit the measurements I needed, bought the primer, paint and brackets and headed home.

Once we had all the unpainted shelving in place, I sanded the edges, primed the boards and painted them the same color as the rest of the closet.

(We built the shelves like this, so if we decide to take them out later we won't have a bunch of holes in the walls.)

Now, I just had to put everything where it goes. I found the storage bins in the Dollar Spot at Target and the clear plastic drawers are lined inside with pieces of scrapbook paper.

Finally, this wouldn't be complete without showing you how our office ended up looking!

Hers

His
(The desks were found at Target as well for $40 on clearance, we could have found them for less elsewhere but we were looking for something that can double as a work table for our various hobbies)

The total cost for the shelving materials was around $30. Total cost for the room was just over $100. It was money well spent for a room that we spend a lot of time in and need it to be as functional as possible.

Do you enjoy DIY projects? I'd love to hear some of your stories!

Book Review: Green With Envy

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:24:00 +0000

I read a book within the last couple weeks called Green With Envy - Why Keeping Up With the Joneses Is Keeping Us In Debt. It was a $3 find at Big Lots :)

This book was a pretty quick read and serves as a great reality check for us to remember that "the grass isn't always greener on the other side". Unless you are walking in the other person's shoes, you really have no idea what their financial situation is, and you shouldn't concern yourself with it.

The book showcased a few couples who racked up an astonishing amount of debt just trying to keep up with their peers because they felt like they "needed" to. They "needed" better clothes, "needed" bigger houses, "needed" more vacations. So they started to buy those things, even though they didn't really have the money for them.

Each couple seemed to be able to juggle their finances for awhile so they could keep up their new-found lifestyle, but eventually it caught up to them and had a moment of panic when they realised just how much debt they accumulated.

Through the process of getting their feet back on the ground with their finances, each one of them wished that they could just go back in time, when they didn't have the debt, when they didn't spend all their money on "stuff". They were scared of what their friends would think of them when they found out, but they realised that their value isn't held within the stuff they own.

In conclusion, I found this book to be a good, quick read. We all need to remember that instead of keeping up with the Joneses, and thinking we will find contentment and that value is in the stuff we posses; we need to live within our means and remember where true contentment comes from, the stuff we cannot buy.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Site back up!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:09:00 +0000

The new layout / design has been uploaded to the site! Please come take a look around, and let me know what you think.

New pages and features will be rolling out over the next month or so, as well as some more posts! (There are a few un-finshed pages on the site right now, but they will be completed soon.)

I hope the new features help you to navigate the site better, but if you do happen to come across a broken link, please send me a message or leave a comment.

Tip: This site is best viewed in IE6. If you happen to use IE7, please click the compatibility button on your browser.

Thanks!

Where has the time gone!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 01:27:00 +0000

Oiy! It's been a long time since I've blogged! We are halfway through the year already and so much has happened. I can't seem to find a consistant time/place to write, it seems to happen in spurts.

I watched Julie and Julia for the first time a couple months ago and it made me want to really try to blog on a regular basis again. While watching the movie I really wondered how the people who were commenting on her blog found it...? The movie also inspired me to try some new recipes and learn more about Julia Child. I'd love to get my hands on a copy of her "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". While I have no desire to cook my way through that many recipes in a years' time, there were so many wonderful looking foods I'd love to try.

Speaking of food though, we are on a mission to eat healthier and loose some weight in the process. I've started going back to the gym as time permits and eating healthier, and my efforts of the first week have totaled 3 lbs gone :)

We planted a garden (corn, peas, lettuce, onions, carrots and tomatoes), and it was doing great, but we went out of town for several days and most of the garden had wilted or died. I'm doing everything I know how to bring it back to life. It also seems that the weeds grow faster than I can pull them. Our dog finally decided to stop digging holes to get into our neighbors backyard. We have a few other house projects going on as well - we are still trying to decide what our "vision" is for the front garden area, how to clean and then keep clean the shower door, and building shelving in the closets of the guest room and office.

I have so much to write about because I haven't had a chance in so long, I could go on and on but this is probably boring most of you. So I want to let you know that I will try my best to write on a somewhat regular basis. I plan to scale way back on the deal posts since those are what take the majority of my time (and they seem to be a dime a dozen these days).

6/8/10

E.L.F. Makeup Now In Kroger!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:50:00 +0000

Awhile back I wrote a post about E.L.F. makeup and how much I have grown to love it. The only drawback to this makeup was I could only buy it online and the shipping was a little pricey for $1 items.

Well, while I was grocery shopping the other day, I came upon a new display full of the products I love most from their line! And the best part is that they are just $1 there too!

Check your local store to see if they have brought this to your area too!

Kraft First Taste Members Check Your Account!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:41:00 +0000

There is a brand new offer for a free package of Oreo Cakesters for many members of Kraft First Taste! Hurry on over to see if the offer is there, because there is only a limited number of coupons to go around!

Free Excedrin Product Coupon!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:15:00 +0000

Head on over here to take a 1 question survey and receive a coupon for a free bottle of Excedrin!

Mommy Cards!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:26:00 +0000

These are such a neat idea and a great deal at that! There are so many situations where these will come in handy, especially when you have your hands full or don't have a pen in your purse!

These would also make a cute inexpensive gift for a new mom :)

Free Bowling on Valentines Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:34:00 +0000

At any Brunswick Bowling Lanes you can take one of these cute Valentine card coupons in for a free game of bowling from 2/14 - 2/28! What a great way to start off a date night without spending a lot of money!

Click here to find a location near you

Free E-Book: Daisy Chain!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:57:00 +0000

Right now you can download a free copy of Daisy Chain for Amazon Kindles! Don't have a Kindle? No worries, just download this application for your computer here and read them right from your PC!

Restaurant.com - 80% Off!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:58:00 +0000

Right now through Feb. 14th you can get 80% off gift certificates - That makes them just $2 each! Use the promo code HEART at checkout and receive a $15 FTD® Floral Reward code! Just click the image above to go to Restaurant.com.

Land's End Shoe Clearance!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:02:00 +0000

Land's End currently has a lot of cute shoes on clearance for women, men, boys and girls!

At work, our polo and dress shirts are made by Land's End and I can personally say that I love the quality of those tops - I'm sure the quality carries over to their shoes.

The womens shoes start out at $7, men's - $10, boys and girls just $4! Now, how about free shipping to make this deal even better? Just use code PLUSH and PIN 7416 at checkout.

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:44:00 +0000

*4 Free coupons for Alexia Products
*1 Alexia Foods Bamboo Tongs
*1 Alexia Foods Wood Cooking Spoon
*1 Package of Alexia Foods cocktail napkins
*$1.00 off coupons for your guests
*Alexia Foods Recipe Ideas
*Alexia Foods Fact Sheet

Click here to read more about the party and sign up!

Free E-Book on Amazon

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:40:00 +0000

Right now on Amazon.com you can get a free download of the book Peculiar Treasures for Kindle!

Don't have a Kindle? No worries, becuase you can download this free application so you can read them on your computer!

25,000 Tokens for club Pogo Members

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:20:00 +0000

Click here to claim your 25,000 Pogo tokens, exclusively for Club members!

Save-a-lot New Coupons!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:39:00 +0000

Do you have a Save-a-lot grocer near you? If so, you're in luck becuase they just released a bunch of new coupons to use at their store!

Check out all of the great new coupons here! (Click on Printable Coupons on the right)

Free Burt's Bees Toothpaste Sample

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:34:00 +0000

Pampers Village: You Could Win Diapers for a Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:56:00 +0000

Could you or someone you know benefit from a year's supply of diapers? If so, sign up for the Pampers Village for a chance to win big!

50 Disney Movie Rewards Points

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:49:00 +0000

Right now you can get 50 Disney Movie Reward Points, just follow these simple steps:

Go to the Alice In Wonderland site here, then click on the Six Impossible Things Sweepstakes box toward the bottom left and then click "Enter Now".

A new page will open, sign in with your Disney Movie Rewards username and password and click "Enter Now". On the next screen you will see "Thank you. You have been entered in the Alice In Wonderland Sweepstakes." and directly under that there will be a box that has a code for 50 pts.

From there, just click on the box, or here and enter your code!